13:25 Huntingdon

Friday 24 January 2020

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:0515:3516:05

Pertemps Network 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 4m 57.9s

Somekindofstar^p1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 107

20/1

Beaten 27L when finishing sixth over an extended 2m7f at Fakenham (good-to-soft) at the start of this month. Making his handicap debut that day and wears cheekpieces for the first time dropping in distance.

Form: 2/F-32P6

State Vision^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 107

15/2

Fair 15½L seventh in a novices' event over this trip at Wetherby (soft) on handicap debut just under a month ago. Likely more needed if he's to take this event however.

Form: 5-48747

Connect Four⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: T R George| OR: 105

28/1

Signs of ability when 18L third in a maiden hurdle over 2m at Chepstow (good) in April last year. Struggled at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) in November on only subsequent start and market support would be notable on handicap debut.

Form: 083-8

Sheeza Legend^h,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Bargary| T: Mrs E Bishop| OR: 105

100/1

Finished a fair 20L sixth in a novice hurdle over an extended 1m7f at Leicester (heavy) on her most recent start. Probably best watched on first start in handicap company.

Form: 636-006

High Up In The Air¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 104

4/1

Victorious over an extended 2m4f at Plumpton (soft) on his penultimate start and this drop in trip looks likely to suit having weakened when 35L third over 2m7f at Lingfield (heavy) subsequently. One to note in this contest.

Form: 95-7813

Sea Story^p⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 104

8/1

Dual bumper winner has finished third on both starts this campaign including when beaten 3½L in a small field over an extended 1m7f at Leicester (heavy) last month. Cheekpieces worn for the first time that day are retained stepping up in distance.

Form: 2486-33

Imperial Elysian^t⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 102| BF

6/1

Maiden after eight starts and returns to hurdles having fallen at the first fence when sent off favourite for his chase debut at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) at the start of November. Interesting to see how he performs.

Form: 5534-6F

The Distant Lady^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 100

12/1

Placed in a mares novices' hurdle at Southwell (good) last July but finished held on heavy ground subsequently and was pulled up in similar conditions when making her handicap debut at Warwick (2m5f) in a first time tongue tie (retained) last month.

Form: 2F-124P

Watar Allstar^p³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 100

20/1

Finished 41L eighth behind a useful looking rival when contesting a novice hurdle over an extended 2m4f at Newbury (soft) last month. Worth a check in the market on handicap debut.

Form: 5/08-608

Twycross Warrior¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 99

11/2

Returning from a break when finishing a neck second in a novices' handicap hurdle over 2m at Warwick (soft) earlier this month. Step up in distance looks likely to suit and he is one for the shortlist despite a 3lb rise in the weights.

Form: 6-51342

Happy News³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 98

40/1

Well beaten eighth in a mares' novices' hurdle over 2m5f at Ludlow (soft) last time out. Probably best watched on her first outing in handicap company.

Form: 78-898

Dont Tell The Wife^b1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 97

50/1

Well held ninth in a ten runner event over an extended 1m7f at Leicester (heavy) at the end of last month. Making his handicap debut here and others hold more obvious claims.

Form: 480-P69

Dapa Lad³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Ross Chapman| T: J Candlish| OR: 96

40/1

Signs of ability when 27L fifth in a maiden hurdle at Plumpton (2m, heavy) on debut in early November. Struggled in two subsequent starts including when pulled up last time out. Market support would be notable on handicap debut.

Form: 50P

Aheadfullofdreams¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 95

33/1

Struggled in three starts over hurdles so far most recently when 43L eighth in a 2m maiden event at Wetherby (soft) recently.. Represents a top yard and no surprise if he leaves previous efforts well behind him upped in trip switched to handicaps.

Form: 66/708

Wye Aye^h²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 88

11/1

Career best effort came when finsihing 9½L third in a novices' handicap hurdle over an extended 2m4f at Market Rasen (good-to-soft) just under a month ago. Races off the same mark here and is an interesting runner in this event.

Form: 080463

Dr Oakley¹⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 86

8/1

Returning from a break when recording his best effort to date when beaten 13L into third over an extended 2m5f at Hereford (good) in October. Given another break since but this drop in distance isn't certain to suit.

Form: 07P07-3

Forecasts

High Up In The Air (4/1), Twycross Warrior (11/2), Imperial Elysian (6/1), State Vision (15/2), Sea Story (8/1), Dr Oakley (8/1), Wye Aye (11/1), The Distant Lady (12/1), Watar Allstar (20/1), Somekindofstar (20/1), Connect Four (28/1), Aheadfullofdreams (33/1), Dapa Lad (40/1), Happy News (40/1), Dont Tell The Wife (50/1), Sheeza Legend (100/1)

HIGH UP IN THE AIR can put a disappointing effort last time out behind him to take this competitive looking hurdle contest. The selection had impressed when winning on his penultimate start and he can get back to winning ways here with Twycross Warrior, runner-up on his most recent outing capable of filling the same position in this contest. .Third place can go the way of Sea Story who has has the forecast ground to suit stepping up in distance.